As I was keeping out of the rain, a guy came out and said 'you have to move away from the building'

"As I was keeping out of the rain, a guy came out and said 'you have to move away from the building.'

"He began telling me I was on their property and they were not licenced for me to be there.

"I was not on their bit of the pathway, the black tiled bit on the strip. I was on the public pathway.

"I told him 'I'm not going to stand in rain chucking it down', I had my vendors badge on me yet he was telling me 'you're not allowed to do collections here.'"I went away, had a cup of coffee and cooled off.

"When I came back I didn't want an argument so I went back and stood outside (Bargain Buys) opposite – a lot of people came up and asked me why I had moved.

"I was told a couple of people left the pub because of what happened."

FURY: Pete West was made to stand in the rain by Wetherspoons (Pic: SWNS/DEVONLIVE)

ANGER: Volunteer David Haynes said the boss 'didn't get the message passed down' (Pic: SWNS/DEVONLIVE)

HEARTLESS: A Wetherspoons boss made Pete West stand in the rain (Pic: SWNS/DEVONLIVE)

Wetherspoons – a budget chain dubbed "Spoons" by its fanbase – has issued a grovelling apology.

A spokesman said: "This was an error and should not have happened.

"We apologise to the gentleman concerned."

A military driver by trade, Pete was sporting the medals he earned in the transport core because he "loves to make an effort, especially this time of year."

He joined the military in 1991 and served for 21 years in warzones including Bosnia, Kosovo, and Afghanistan.

And he also served in Northern Ireland.

CRITICISM: A spokesman has apologised over the incident at the Chevalier pub in Exeter, Devon (Pic: SWNS/DEVONLIVE)Related Articles

He adds it was only one boss who gave him his marching orders, saying: "The day before went into Georges Meeting House and put poppies on counter – and they gave me a cup of coffee and told me I didn't need to pay for it."

Fellow volunteer David Haynes added: "This junior manager clearly didn't get the message passed down from the main manager of the pub.

"Rather than argue it, or get into a confrontation Pete just walked away.

"It is not common at all for things like this to happen. We have no problems with Georges Meeting House at all.

"Ferns in the Guildhall will always offer poppy sellers cups of tea, and other shops too."